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A plan to move a colony of prairie dogs from the site of a future BMX park at the Schaefer Athletic Complex appeared likely to fail due to a lack of space and the potential costs.

The 45 prairie dogs must be moved or exterminated to make room for the BMX bicycle track being built by Mile High BMX. A plan proposed by the Foothills Prairie Dog Task Force, a group of volunteers unassociated with the Foothills Park and Recreation District, would relocate the rodents south of the track on about 1.8 acres.

Jeffco residents in fire-prone areas voiced concern during a telephone town hall meeting last week about neighbors who don’t do mitigation work on their properties.

Several participants in the May 27 event asked how to handle neighbors who fail to remove slash or create defensible space around their homes. One caller, who said he lived on Conifer Mountain, said neighbors below his property are creating a hazard for him and his family.

A telephone town hall meeting with Jeffco’s county commissioners on May 27 will focus on the upcoming wildfire season and the county’s emergency preparedness.

Some 50,000 telephone numbers in the county will be called to participate in the hour-long meeting, although anyone can call in. The commissioners typically take questions from callers after making opening remarks.

The recent relentless rains have swollen Chatfield Reservoir and forced the closure of several recreational areas in the popular state park.

The reservoir was 6 feet above its normal level as of May 21, resulting in closure of the swim beach; Jamison Picnic Area; Catfish Picnic Area; Eagle Cove; Plum Creek Picnic Area; and the south boat ramp.

HIGHLANDS RANCH — The graduation of six seniors and injuries — lots of them — were just part of what the Columbine Lady Rebels had to overcome in 2015. There also was the proverbial bull’s-eye that is always on a defending state champion.

After a five-hour hearing May 4, Jeffco’s county commissioners delayed their decision on a contentious rezoning request that would let developers install hiking trails and possibly a mini-ski slope in a Morrison subdivision.

The Jeffco school district has fired the former principal of Ute Meadows Elementary School, who stands accused of sexual assault on a minor.

The district placed Steven Weigum, 55, on administrative leave March 10, the day after his arrest. The school board was notified at its May 7 meeting that Weigum had been let go, district spokeswoman Lisa Pinto said.

Pinto said the district would not comment on an ongoing legal matter. Weigum had been with Jeffco Public Schools since July 2001, when he was hired as principal at Bergen Valley Elementary in Evergreen.

An autopsy on the body of Jennifer Lobato, the Jeffco jail prisoner who died after waiting hours in vain for medical treatment, showed the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to excessive vomiting.

Lobato, 37, died in her cell on March 2, a day after being booked into the jail on a shoplifting charge. That morning, Lobato had complained to a deputy that she wasn’t feeling well. By afternoon, both Lobato and her cellmate had asked that she be seen by the jail’s medical staff.